Burglar- alarm



S. B. HOLDEN.

"Burglar-Annunciator. I No. 25,788. v Patented, 0m. 11, 1859.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STOUGHTON B. HOLDEN, OF WOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, AND PARKER NICHOLS, OF READING, MASSACHUSETTS.

BURGLAR-ALARM.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 25,788, dated October 11, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STOUGHTON B. HOLDEN, of Woburn, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Burglar-Annunciator or Night-Watch Light and Alarm; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 denotes a top view of the said apparatus, the match holder being in its lowest position. Fig. 2, a side elevation, showing the match holder or carrier as raised to its highest position. Fig. 3 is a side View of the match holder as removed from the case.

The nature of my invention consists in an improved apparatus for sounding an alarm and giving a light, in case an attempt is being made to enter a house during the night, or it may be employed for awakening a person at any hour of the night.

In the drawings, A represents the frame or box for containing or supporting the operative mechanism, the same having a vertical standard, B, disposed at one end of it; the front face, a, of said standard serving as a bed on which a torpedo may be placed and exploded, by means of the hammer or enlargement, Z), formed upon the match carrier. To the other end of the said frame, an adjustable friction board or surface, C, is arranged as seen in the drawings, such being so applied as to be readily adjustable at any angle that may be necessary, and moreover, a staple or clamping contrivance, c, is passed around the friction board, for the purpose of retaining the said board or roughened face thereof, in its proper position with reference to the match.

Near one end of the frame, A, a match holder D, is disposed, the same being secured by, and turning upon a torsion cord, 7, which is carried through holes, (Z, (Z, and has pins, 6, 6, passed through its outer ends as seen in the drawings. This match holder is intended to play or turn in vertical directions, upon the cord, f, as a fulcrum the said cord being twisted, so as to give to the holder, a smart percussion force when brought in contact with the Vertical standard, B, or a torpedo, or explosive compound 'placed thereon, and furthermore the said match holder or carrier, I usually construct of wire, the lower part being bifurcated; its two arms, 0, r, extending about to its middle part, where one of the arms or wires is Wound in a helix, 6, around the other, such helical part serving not only as a hammer, to discharge the explosive compound placed upon the post, B, but as a candle stick or holder to sustain the miniature candle to be placed therein, and furthermore from the said helical part, the holder is curved toward its outer end as seen in the drawings, the extreme outer end being bent at a right angle, or nearly so, to the body of the holder, so as to support the point of a match when brought in contact with the friction surface or board, C; and furthermore, a lever latch, g, is hinged or jointed in a slot, 91, formed in the side of the frame, A, as seen in Fig. 2, such lever turning upon a vertical pin, h. The said lever consists of two arms, a, o, the shorter arm (1)) serving, when turned transversely of the frame, to confine the ,match holder in its low'est position, Whenever the same may be necessary.

Having described the construction of my apparatus, I will now describe its operation.

If we suppose the apparatus to be in position as shown in Fig. 2, we first apply a match or match candle to the match holder, placing the foot or butt of the match in the helical portion, the point or end of the match being placed against the front bent end of the holder, as seen in Fig. 2. Vs next turn the match holder down into a horizontal, or nearly horizontal position and confirm the same by means of the latch lever, 9; we next arrange the friction board or surface, C, at the proper angle with respect to the point of the match, so that when the holder is released, the point or igniting end of the match, shall be brought against the roughened surface with suflicient force to enflame the former.

The apparatus is now ready to be applied to a door or window. lVe place the apparatus upon a table or other suitable object, and then taking a string or cord long enough to extend across the door, and from the door to the apparatus, and fasten one end to the rear part of the door, and carry the other end across the door, and through an eye disposed on the adjacent side of the door frame, and from thence we lead it and fasten it to the longer end of the lever, g. In case we apply it to a window, we have only to attach one end of the cord to the lever, g, and attach the other end to the lower part of the upper sash; if then an attempt is made to either raise the lower or depress the upper sash, the alarm Will at once be given. Or one end of the cord may be attached to the Wire, connected With a door bell, so that When the same may be pulled upon, an alarm will be sounded or a light given as may be required.

I do not claim a movable friction match carrier, a grated or friction surface, and a trigger or device for setting free the match carrier so as to permit it to be moved by a spring in such manner as to carry the ex- 15 and its hammer b, With the torpedo post 20 or standard B, the trigger lever g, and the grater or friction plate C, the Whole forming an improved, eflicient and simple alarm to operate as specified.

STOUGHTON B. HOLDEN. Witnesses:

F. R. HALE, Jr.,

ARTHUR NEILE. 

